diff --git a/src/utils/idmapper/base.py b/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
index 3a868125d..122c5b7d2 100755
--- a/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
+++ b/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
@@ -418,6 +418,10 @@ def conditional_flush(max_rmem, force=False):
                             "once in %s min interval. Check memory usage." % (AUTO_FLUSH_MIN_INTERVAL/60.0))
         return
 
+    if os.name == "nt":
+        # we can't look for mem info in Windows at the moment
+        return
+
     # check actual memory usage
     Ncache_max = mem2cachesize(max_rmem)
     Ncache, _ = cache_size()
diff --git a/src/utils/utils.py b/src/utils/utils.py
index 07068e6d1..8be0eb73d 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils/utils.py
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ def datetime_format(dtobj):
 def host_os_is(osname):
     """
     Check to see if the host OS matches the query.
+    Common osnames are
+      posix
+      nt
     """
     if os.name == osname:
         return True